61: Going Dutch Panini at Bread Lounge

Leading up to this year's Best of L.A. issue (due out Oct. 4), we'll be counting down, in no particular order, 100 of our favorite dishes.

61: Going Dutch Panini at Bread Lounge.

There are people who might tell you that all panini are created equal. That putting some bread, meat and cheese inside a hot sandwich press will always yield the same result. These people have not tried the Going Dutch panini at Bread Lounge..

The bread is a country-style loaf perfected by owner Ran Zimon, who used to head up the baking program at Lucques. Before going on the griddle, the slices are slathered in butter, which helps them develop a satisfying crunch. It's not the kind of crust that cuts the roof of your mouth, nor is it the kind that collapses into mush — it is, by almost any metric, perfectly toasted, which probably speaks more highly of the bread than of the panini press.

Inside are slices of roast turkey, smoked Gouda cheese and a bright red homemade sun-dried tomato pesto. The cheese becomes ooey-gooey, the pesto provides an earthy flavor, and the turkey pulls apart into tender bites. Pair that with a simple salad of baby greens and a house-cured kosher pickle and you have a lunch of pure, delicious simplicity.

100: Lukshon's Dan Dan Noodles

99: Cemita de Milanesa at Cemitas Poblanos Elviritas #1

98: Chichen Itza's Cochinita Pibil

97: Tsukemen at Tsujita L.A.

96: La Cevicheria's Bloody Clam Ceviche

95: Duck Shawarma at Momed

94: Peruvian Chicken at Pollo a la Brasa

93: Squash Blossom Quesadilla at Antojitos Carmen

92: Thai Boat Noodles at Pa-Ord

91: Baco Mercat's Bazole

90: Furikake Kettle Corn at A-Frame

89: Live Santa Barbara Spot Prawns at Providence

88: Fried Pig Tails at Night + Market

87: Egg Salad Sandwich at Euro Pane

86: Galbi Jjim at Soban

85: Truffle Honey-Laced Fried Chicken at Manhattan Beach Post

84: Mool Naeng Myun at Yu Chic Naeng Myun

83: Chicken Vampiro at Mexicali Taco & Co

82: Sooo Cali Dog at Dog Haus

81: White Anchovy, Tomato and Fresno Chile Pizza at Pizzeria Mozza

80: Shu Mai at Elite Restaurant

79: Tandoori Chicken at Al-Watan

78: Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding at The Hungry Cat

77: Agedashi Tofu at Izakaya Bincho

76: Pork Chop at Salt's Cure

75: Porcetto at Sotto

74: The Sea Urchin Tostada at La Guerrerense

73: Wood-Roasted English Peas at Tar & Roses

72: Persian Mulberries at Weiser Family Farms

71: Hunan-Style Preserved Pork with Tofu at Hunan Chilli King

70: Brisket Banh Mi at Gjelina Take Away

69: Yukhwe Bibimbap at Oo-Kook Korean BBQ

68: Lamb Pie at Beijing Pie House

67: Son of a Gun's Uni and Burrata

66: Pastrami Reuben at Art's Delicatessen

65: Beef Koobideh at Kabab Mahaleh

64: The Whipper Burger at Hawkins House of Burgers

63: Slippery Shrimp at Yang Chow

62: Whole Channel Island Red Sea Urchin at Water Grill